Ken nobody is a bigger Rapids fan then me I went to the rink when everyone bailed on the team last two years, I watch the youth teams I am not saying they can’t go to state this year but they are to young still the senior class is going to do nothing for them this year and having good seniors is a big deal in any sport. They well only get better next year if nobody leaves early and if they find any sort of a decent goalie watch out but goaltending could be the death of the team.

Understand. I’ll take the elite goalie a sub par senior class. I value the goalie the most on any team. But that’s just me.

So what you are saying narcotic is that if it rains, it is going to be wet outside. You’ve got a point there.

My point being, better next year. I thought I laid it out so a 3rd grader could figure it out. As far as the goaltending, our returning senior is decent, but he will not steal any wins against good teams. Regardless of his elite league roster status.

Ken nobody is a bigger Rapids fan then me I went to the rink when everyone bailed on the team last two years, I watch the youth teams I am not saying they can’t go to state this year but they are to young still the senior class is going to do nothing for them this year and having good seniors is a big deal in any sport. They well only get better next year if nobody leaves early and if they find any sort of a decent goalie watch out but goaltending could be the death of the team.

Looks like Blace Tomberlin from Hibbing will be joining the Senior Class at Rapids.

Ken nobody is a bigger Rapids fan then me I went to the rink when everyone bailed on the team last two years, I watch the youth teams I am not saying they can’t go to state this year but they are to young still the senior class is going to do nothing for them this year and having good seniors is a big deal in any sport. They well only get better next year if nobody leaves early and if they find any sort of a decent goalie watch out but goaltending could be the death of the team.

Looks like Blace Tomberlin from Hibbing will be joining the Senior Class at Rapids.

Interesting . Yes, Hibbing boys hockey youth and high school has officially become a feeder program for everybody but Hibbing. That’s too bad.

I wonder if the Steeve's kid is a Holy Family recruit or is he playing at Eden Prairie. Unless his name was missed on the Elite League tryout list last week, he was given a guaranteed spot in the Elite League.

I wonder if the Steeve's kid is a Holy Family recruit or is he playing at Eden Prairie. Unless his name was missed on the Elite League tryout list last week, he was given a guaranteed spot in the Elite League.

Correct, Steeve's appears to have been an auto-invite as was the goalie move-in Shantz playing at Tonka

Curious on the mechanics of 2 move-ins (Minnetonka and EP) that make the Elite League without a tryout or prior playing visibility in Minnesota. This seems contrary to the "stay home and play" campaigning over the past several years.

Do the individual HS coaches have enough sway to get those players placed? is it just the bigger names/programs that get this?

I couldn't agree more with you more. A number of homegrown kids tried out for the league and didn't make it, and then two kids receive an automatic. Unbelievable! I feel sorry for the kid who will not make the team, or the goalie slated to start and now will be mostly a back-up after being in the program their entire lives. I know this is happening all over the place but it isn't right.

Curious: How do people feel about North Dakota kids that get auto-bids for the Great Plains team? I get the gripe, but do you view this any different?
Seriously, I really dont have an opinion, but am curious if you view this differently. Those ND players take roster spots up each year.

Agreed, a lot of players in this league will be done after HS, many who didn't make it will... it is what it is. People just can't put all the stock in this like they use to... it's changed.

The league has changed significantly from now to two years ago. Sammy Walker’s Team Southwest was stacked with a guesstimate of 10-14 D1 kids when all is said and done plus a handful of draft picks. NW was really good with a few NHL picks and plenty of D1 kids. Heck, SE had Jensen, Christy boys etc. The only team that was done wrong was CCM.

You look at the teams now- I think it seems much less ...impressive. Maybe it’s just me

Agreed, a lot of players in this league will be done after HS, many who didn't make it will... it is what it is. People just can't put all the stock in this like they use to... it's changed.

The league has changed significantly from now to two years ago. Sammy Walker’s Team Southwest was stacked with a guesstimate of 10-14 D1 kids when all is said and done plus a handful of draft picks. NW was really good with a few NHL picks and plenty of D1 kids. Heck, SE had Jensen, Christy boys etc. The only team that was done wrong was CCM.

You look at the teams now- I think it seems much less ...impressive. Maybe it’s just me